National Park Dwingelderveld

The Landscape

National Park Dwingelderveld is the largest wet heathland in Western Europe, located near the village of Dwingeloo. Covering around 3,500 hectares, the park features vast heathlands, tranquil fens, juniper thickets, and swampy woodlands. The landscape was shaped after the last Ice Age and further developed through centuries of traditional grazing and sod-cutting. These age-old practices have preserved the park’s open and varied character. With over forty picturesque fens scattered throughout, Dwingelderveld offers a uniquely peaceful setting. It is also one of the darkest places in the Netherlands, making it a perfect spot for stargazing.

Beyond the boundaries of the National Park, the landscape gradually shifts into a peaceful and rural setting, where quiet roads and winding paths invite exploration. Open fields and meadows alternate with small woodlands, hedgerows, and scattered farms. The gently rolling sandy soils are drier here, making them well-suited for agriculture and livestock. Along the edges of the park lie charming Drenthe villages, often built around a central green and surrounded by fields, adding a distinctive touch to the landscape. While the park itself is known for its wet heathlands and tranquil fens, the surrounding area offers a more varied mix of farmland, forests, and stream valleys.